RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has committed to integrating artificial intelligence into all programs through partnerships with global platforms, according to the minister of communications and information technology. Speaking during a fireside chat at the Global Labor Market Conference in Riyadh, Abdullah bin Amer Al-Swaha highlighted that the Kingdom has partnered with platforms like Coursera for 250,000 seats to guarantee that the youth and future generations attain the essential skill sets. “On future skills, we have pledged an AI for all programs, out of which we have partnered with the likes of Coursera for 250,000 seats to make sure that our youth and the next generation have the necessary skill set to flourish in the generative AI era,” Al-Swaha said. The minister also commended Saudi Arabia’s leadership for demonstrating trust in the human capital development program and AI, both of which are considered fundamental at the national level. “It has to be lifelong learning and continuous learning and that’s the partnership today,” he said. Emphasizing the significance of leadership in the field of AI, the minister praised the substantial growth achieved in the past seven years, from a tech force of 150,000 to an impressive 354,000. “What’s more remarkable is the women empowerment story in tech. We’ve jumped from 7 percent to 35 percent.” Furthermore, the minister also discussed a global phenomenon characterized by a unique convergence of a tipping point and a turning point and the difference between the two. “A tipping point will be like the iPhone moment out of which we have changed the way we use communication forever,” he explained. On the other hand, a turning point involves a trajectory shift, as seen historically in transitions from steam engines to electricity and the internet. Al-Swaha then noted that the current era, marked by generative AI, represents both a tipping and turning point simultaneously.